Frank Cadman Styers III, known to friends and family as “Cadman,” was awarded the LGFCU Scholarship Award this summer.

The Local Government Federal Credit Union Scholarship Award recognizes a student’s high achievement in extracurricular activities as well as academics. Students must have maintained a grade point average of 3.0 or higher. Financial need is also a consideration in their selection process.

Styers graduated from Hoggard High School last spring and is now a freshman at N.C. State University in Raleigh. Currently, he is majoring in engineering. He is looking hard at biomedical engineering in particular. Styers is interested in cures for Alzheimer’s and dementia.

“I want to move forward with the research I did on Alzheimer’s disease and dementia in high school,” Styers said. “Biomedical engineering is about creating ways to sustain life on Earth.”

A fascination with age-related ailments seems odd for a high school student, but Styers was not a typical high school kid. The disease hit close to home. His grandfather had dementia and, additionally, Styers spent hours in nursing homes around Wilmington performing music.

Styers is a gifted pianist and can play nearly any song by ear, without needing sheet music. Starting his sophomore year, he took his musical talent to local nursing homes and played there on a regular basis, averaging once a month.

He played primarily for memory care units and did his senior project on his experiences.

“It was amazing how much music triggered (the residents’) memory,” Styers said. “They could remember lyrics from years ago, for example, but not necessarily my name.”

Styers still plays the piano while at the university, but not in a formal capacity and not as much as he’d like. He is focused on his studies.

Styers said he was honored to receive the LGFCU Scholarship. He applied after learning about the opportunity while at the bank to open an account. As a lifeguard at Jungle Rapids over the summer, he had worked hard to earn some funds and wanted to use them responsibly. The bank teller told Styers and his father about the available scholarship. Styers sent in his application not too long afterwards.

This year, he is one of 120 deserving high school seniors and post-secondary students that will have extra money to apply toward their education at the university, community or technical college of their choice.

“This is the 18th consecutive year we have offered this scholarship,” said LGFCU President Maurice Smith. “It’s a real pleasure to reward these fine adults for not only getting top-notch grades, but also for finding the drive to take active roles in their communities. We applaud them and wish them luck in their studies and beyond.”